ELECTRICAL POWER.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume LXVI, Issue 11937, 26 March 1914, Page 6

ELECTRICAL POWER.

HARNESSING THE WAINGAWA

A QUESTION OF MONEY.:

A deputation from the Masterton Chamber of Commerce, consisting of Messrs .I. 0. Cooper, R. Brown, G. H. Ferry, .1. C. Boddington, E. P. Mountford! ••. Milne, and J. Casclberg, waited on the Hon. F. M. B. Fisher yesterday afternoon in connection with a proposal to utilise the Waingawa river near Masterton for tho purpose of generating electrical power. The deputation was introduced by Mr G. R. Sykes, M.P. Mr Mount/ford, the first speaker, staled that, the deputation had taken advantage of the Minister's presence to (dace, before him the advantages of the proposal. Industries were strangled in the district, for the want of power, .and he urged the Minister to grant the request, of the deputation Mr d . 0. Cooper, managing director of the Wellington Farmers' Meat Company, whose works are situated at Waingawa, urged upon the Minister the importance of utilising water power for the purpose of providing electricity, which could be used in connection with the driving of machinery iii local industries. ' Speaking of his company, Mr Cooper said that their power bill came to £5200 yearly, of which sum about. £1000 was for coal. The business of the company had increased considerably since it was first, established, aud would continue to increase as the years went on. His board of directors was faced with the problem of the rapidly increasing cost of power, the price of coal, as the Minister no doubt. Avas aware, having increased considerably during the past year or two. They were faced with the question of looking round for cheaper poAver. .In the rivers in the district there was a vast amount of power going to waste, lie had been told that the WaiugaAva river could be harnessed for £;">O,OOO. There was, he understood, an official report, setting down the cost at that amount. His company Avould be large users of the power from the Waingawa river, iv fact the revenue which Avould be derived from the company would pay the interest nil the reported cost of the work. One freezing company in Southland had harnessed the. Mntaurn river at their own cost, and were now supplying the power and electric light to two towns in Southland. He contended that itwas the duty of the Government to utilise the poAver whereA'er possible, and if unable to do so their private enterprise should be given an opportunity of doing so. The deputation desired the Government to supply it with a copy of the report Avhich had been obtained concerning the cost of harnessing the Waingawa and h'uamahanga ri\"ors so that an indication of Avtiaf. Avork should be done, and the cost, etc., obtained. There were business establishments in the town and district which would avail themselves of the electric power if it were obtainable. In reply to the deputation Mr Fisher said that, as placed before him, the scheme was a feasible and possible one As one linn alone would contribute '.'12(10 iv revenue by using the power, it looked tike a good investment. liewould, however, like to know what view the Borough Council took of the matter. Mr Cooper said that that aspect of the question had not been gone into. Continuing, the Minister said that Mie Government was anxious to make use of the enormous power which avus at present running to waste. lie expressed the opinion that such power would' in time be used for the railways. Of course, the whole question was one of money. If the government were u.iabie to carry out such schemes he did not think that it Avould step in the way of private enterprise doing so. The Masterton Borough Council had gasworks, and, of course, that body Avould require to be consulted in the matter He considered that it was preferable for local people to control and run such a scheme. As far as the request of the deputation aa as concerned, lie could not give ;m answer, as it- was -not a matter which affected his department. Such a request came within the scope of the Hon. Mf Fraser, and he would have much pleasure iv bringing the matter under the notice of that Minister. The deputation thanked Mr Fisher, .and Avithdrew.